Monday, September 19, 2011

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas will seek United Nations membership from the Security Council, despite opposition from Israel and the United States. Yemen is also in the news this week as the country faces the worst violence in its uprising.

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library houses dozens of historic and current maps of Palestine and Yemen. The map shown above (click to enlarge) is a 1947 map of the Palestine Plan of Partition proposed by the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee “on the Palestinian Question.” The orange shading represented the Arab state, and the blue shading represented the Jewish state as of 1947.

Current maps of the West Bank and Gaza are also available from the GRMC, including a terrain model published by the Central Intelligence Agency and maps showing Israeli settlements. A map folio of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is also available in the GRMC. A detailed aerial photograph of the Gaza Strip from 2007 is also available for circulation.

The GRMC also has a varied collection of Yemen maps, including nautical charts of the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea. A map of the road networks of Yemen is available, as well as maps of Sana and Aden. The GRMC also has topographic maps of the Arabian Peninsula.

For more information about these resources, please visit the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 or call 765-285-1097.

September 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. Seven Latin American countries declared their independence during the month of September, and Columbus Day also falls within this period of celebration.

A special map exhibit commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month is currently on display in the GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library, which coincides with a Hispanic Heritage book display in the lobby of Bracken Library. The exhibit features maps and images (click to enlarge above) from the Atlas of Hispanic-American History available from the Atlas Collection.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Beautiful Map: Miss Universe Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

Miss Angola was crowned the winner of the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil last night. The map shown above (click to enlarge) is from the State of Women in the World Atlas available in the GIS Research and Map Collection and the Atlas Collection in Bracken Library. The purple shading identifies countries who participate in the pageant, and the crowns represent past winners. The map offers a cultural lesson of why certain regions and countries of the world do not participate in the pageant. A related inset map displays countries where Avon beauty products are sold.

For more information about this atlas, please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 P.M.

New Zealand is hosting one of the largest international sporting competitions in the world, the Rugby World Cup through October. The current tournament model features twenty nations competing over a month in the host nation. The United States team is gearing up to play Russia on Thursday in New Plymouth and will play later in the month in Wellington and Nelson.

The map shown above (click to enlarge) shows the participants of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the team rankings. A chart includes the former winners of the World Cup, noting that only once has the winner come from a northern hemisphere country. The final chart shows the size of the television audience and revenues for the international competition. The map is from the Atlas of Sport available in the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.

This GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) also includes maps of New Zealand that are available for research and learning. The collection includes detailed topographic maps, maps of national parks, geological maps, and tourist maps including maps of New Zealand cities. The Atlas Collection also includes road atlases of New Zealand, a cultural atlas, a historical atlas, and an atlas called New Zealand in Maps.

Maps from the GRMC may be circulated for two weeks or longer. Atlases may be circulated for 28 days or longer.

For more information about these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Ball State University and other community supporters are sponsoring the Tour of Muncie via bicycle on September 17 beginning at 9:00 A.M. This is the second year for journey through Muncie that allows participants to learn about some interesting spots from their bikes.

This year six tours will be led by experts on the area, including Green City Infrastructure, Natural Areas, Community Gardens, Historic Places, Weird Muncie, and Ball State University Green Tour. Routes are 7-10 miles long, start downtown, and are suitable for most cycling abilities.

The Ball State tour will feature stops at the geothermal heating and cooling stations, the new Glick Art Glass Center, Christy Woods, and the Ball State Recreation Center and Outdoor Pursuits Equipment Rental and Resource Center.

Participants can ride in morning and afternoon tours. Lunch will be served downtown at noon. A mini bike lap race and bike toss competition will also be held. An after-event party will be held at the Fickle Peach at 4:00. All participants will receive an event t-shirt, water bottle, and reusable shopping bag.

The Tour of Muncie event headquarters will be located in the parking lot behind the Fickle Peach on Walnut Street downtown. To register for the rides or for more information about the tour, please visit http://sites.google.com/site/tourofmuncie/home.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library is featuring a “Maps in the News” exhibit on high school football in America. The map (above, click to enlarge) shows the number of high-school boys per 1,000 in population playing football in school leagues as of 2009. The map is from the Atlas of Sport by Alan Tomlinson from the Atlas Collection.

Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer. For more information about maps and atlases available from the GRMC, please call 765-285-1097.